Peace in the Chaos

I’m not sure who said this quote, but I know I’ve heard (a version of) it on SiriusXM The Message in the car, and it’s the perfect thing to remember right now!

This is the crazy time of year for me at work. The past few days have been a whirlwind and it’s easy to end up feeling like a hamster on a wheel… going and going and getting nowhere. Don’t get me wrong though – I love my job and I am happy to stop what I’m doing to talk to my students, answer questions, take a phone call, or help out someone across campus to get ready for the next orientation session. It just makes for long days and a feeling of never being able to get to my own to-do list.

I was on the phone with my mom as I drove out to pick up Peanut from the sitter yesterday afternoon, and I was telling her that I guess having a kid can kind of force you into work-life balance when you don’t really have a choice but to leave work to go pick them up. As I was telling her about the past few days, we got to talking about Peanut and the drive out to drop her off and pick her up. I started to feel like it would be so much easier if she was somewhere closer – that somehow that would give me extra time in the day.

As I got off the phone, I had the instant realization that if she was closer, I would probably just stay at work a little later and pick her up around the same time. Or I’d fill that extra time with laundry, dishes, or getting meals ready for the next day at home.

I probably would lose this time in the car that tends to help me connect with God, and find peace in the day. Yes, it’s not always in the midst of the “noise, trouble or hard work,” but it’s in the middle of a busy day, and on that drive I tend to notice the little things and feel His calming reminder to be still.

So here’s to working on having calm hearts in the middle of the noise, but also taking the quiet moments to re-center our sense of peace!